Stockport

Health improved substantially in Stockport in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population decreased

Between the last two censuses, the population of Stockport fell by 0.4%, from just under 285,000 to 283,000.

The loss of about 1,000 people means this area's population decreased by 0.4% between that last two censuses, while the population of England increased by 7.9%

In 2011, Stockport was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More single parents

This area saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

Across the region, only Hyndburn saw a greater rise in the proportion of single-parent households (from 10% to 13%).

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Stockport had a single parent, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 38% to 34%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Stockport residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stockport decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stockport, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Stockport

The number of people in Stockport that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 40,000 in 2001 to just over 71,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 25% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Stockport that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 210,000 in 2001 to about 180,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 20,000 to about 19,000 (from 7.1% to 6.5%).

About 9,400 people (1.8%) said they were Muslim, up from about 5,000 in 2001 (3.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Stockport increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Stockport by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Stockport, but at a slower rate than in Bury, a statistically similar local authority area.

In Stockport, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.5% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Bury increased from 6.7% to 14%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Stockport remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 73%.

Private renting in Stockport increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stockport, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Stockport working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 8.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Stockport decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Stockport, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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